A Psalm of Asaph.

50 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;[1]before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,[2]and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.

19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. 21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I[3] was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! 23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (ESV)

Footnotes:

1. Or May our God come, and not keep silence

2. Or Make thanksgiving your sacrifice to God

3. Or that the I am

Our Father,

The heavens declare your righteousness for you are the judge over all. The world in its fullness is all yours and you need nothing. You speak forth a word and all nature trembles. You are clothed in the firmament of the heavens and the earth is but a small planet in your Creation.

Yet you pay attention to humankind, you know our every deed both good and evil. Your Word comes forth both as Grace and judgment. Everyone one both great and small is measured by their faith in you and belief in your Son.

Many say that they will pacify God by giving money to a temple or church and appease your righteous nature by trying to do more good than evil. But you have declared in your Word that the beginning of wisdom is faith and the foundation of your Kingdom is love.

By your love you have sent your Son into the world to save it, and his teachings to show the way. And the Good News of your Kingdom will be spread in every nation, out of every people will come the testimony of your Son. From every land his followers will sing songs of joy at his coming.

We cannot do anything that lasts forever, but you have given us your Spirit and by his counsel we have stored up everlasting treasures. It is by your help that we do works of righteousness, on our own our efforts are nothing but filthy rags. But you have promised that every believer in your Son Jesus will be clothed in glory for the wedding feast of the King.

Rise up O God and bring down a glimpse of your Kingdom among your servants for the church of your Son is now being dragged in the dirt. Let a new day shine forth from the believers, let your Kingdom works be demonstrated in their midst. Let your Word bring joy to every nation, your love be demonstrated all around the earth. Let your healing and miracles free the children in every land from the dead religions they serve and from the demanding priests and imams they follow.

Let the light of your Son shine forth into the darkness and cover the whole earth. May the name of your Son be praised and worshiped in every land before that coming great day when all will stand before your throne.